Solidarity With Refugees – For A World Where Refugees Are Welcomed

BY RUSHANE FERRON

Hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers along with various refugee-led and serving organizations gathered at 163 Queen St E, on the 4^th floor to mark World Refugee Day. The event was organized by Hope for Refugees International (HRI) in collaboration with partners including: The 519, FCJ Refugee Centre, Toronto People Living with AIDS Foundation (PWA), The Neighborhood Group Community Services (TNG), FIFE House, Africans in Partnership Against AIDS (APAA), African Descent Ontario, and Love Peace and Harmony Foundation. The event was to honour the strength, courage, and resilience of refugees in Canada and around the globe.

Canada has a long history of providing refuge to those fleeing conflict and persecution. However, the challenges for many refugees upon arrival in Canada often struggle with finding: emergency shelters, affordable housing, encountering racial discrimination, and facing vulnerabilities due to unstable living conditions. Particularly, Black African LGBTQ+ refugees face significant obstacles in accessing essential healthcare services, including: sexual and reproductive health, mental health support, and HIV/AIDS care, due to discrimination and lack of culturally sensitive services.

The economic challenges such as: unemployment, underemployment, and poverty are prevalent among refugees, exacerbated by systemic barriers like racism and lack of essential information. Another layer of challenges refugees often encounter are: discrimination, homophobia, and hate speech, which are pervasive even within refugee and immigrant communities, with conservative cultural beliefs and religious values often leading to ostracism and isolation for LGBTQ+ refugees.

The event featured speeches from service providers who have expressed their solidarity with refugees, reflecting on their commitment to refugee issues. Refugees shared their inspirational stories of survival and resilience, celebrating their achievements and discussing the challenges they face. The event was not short of talent, nor entertainment as black African refugees showcased their talents and creativity through painting, spoken word, rap, singing, dancing, drumming, and gymnastics. Organizations serving refugees also exhibited their services, providing opportunities for refugees to interact with service providers and understand the resources available to them.

Lilian Ainembabazi Tusiime (Executive Director of Hope for Refugees International), emphasized the significance of this year’s theme, “Solidarity With Refugees – For a World Where Refugees are Welcomed.” She called for a collective commitment to provide refuge and support for refugees and asylum seekers, particularly highlighting the resilience and contributions of LGBTQ+ refugees during Pride Month.

“Our objectives today are to celebrate the achievements of refugees, raise awareness about the challenges they face, mobilize support from key stakeholders, and advocate for increased collaboration and funding for refugee-serving organizations,” said Tusiime. She further highlighted the unprecedented global refugee crisis, noting that over 108.4 million people were displaced by: conflict, persecution, and violence in 2022 alone.

Tusiime also stressed the importance of solidarity with refugees, advocating for policies and practices that support them in Canada. She called for safe spaces for: dialogue, sharing, learning, peer-to-peer support, and community building. She emphasized the crucial role of refugee-led grassroots organizations in reaching and providing necessary resources and support to the refugee community. The collaborative efforts between refugee-serving organizations and policymakers, involving refugees in decision-making processes, are vital to addressing their unique needs and vulnerabilities.

“Join us as we gather to raise our voices and demand change. Let us challenge the status quo and fight for a world where all refugees, regardless of their: race, gender, or sexual orientation, are treated with dignity and respect. Together, we can build a future where every individual can live authentically and thrive,” Tusiime urged.

The event underscored the importance of solidarity and support for refugees, calling on all Canadians to advocate for a more inclusive and supportive environment for refugees and asylum seekers.